'We're Manipuris, though citizens of India'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 07 2012:
"Manipur has been merged with the Indian Union and become a part and parcel of India.
So, though a citizen of India, we should never forget that we are still Manipuris or else we will be losing all our customs, culture and traditions and the identity forever", exclaimed MLA RK Anand.
He was speaking at the valedictory function of the 6-day training programme on Meeteilon (script) organized by MEELAL at MFDC auditorium here today.
"Eikhoibusu Hinghanbiyu", a film based on promotion of Meetei script was also released on the occasion.
MLA Anand further stated that if we claim ourselves to be belonging to a certain community, we should be having our own culture, traditions, language, scripts and administration.
Though there are various communities settling in India, very few of the communities have their own language and script.
Unfortunately, although Manipuri Language has been included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, the issue over its script has not yet been settled.
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While praising the efforts of MEELAL in trying to promote Meetei script in the state even to the extent of making it a compulsory subject in school syllabus, MLA RK Anand said that it has become a burden for most of the parents to teach their children Meetei script whenever their children have problems in learning it, since they are not well equip with the script.
The MLA further appealed to the people of the state to help MEELAL in popularizing Meetei script and said that those people who are not trying to protect, preserve and promote Meetei script is the enemy of Manipur.
Maisnam Shivadutta Luwang, Editor of Hueiyen Lanpao (Meetei Mayek Edition), who was also present on the occasion as one of the Guests of Honour, observed that films should not be regarded as just an entertainment medium.
It also plays an active role in steering the society to the right direction.
It is a medium through which education is imparted to the masses.
So, we need to promote Manipuri digital films.
Presided over by Sh Tomba, President of MEELAL, the function was also attended by Dr K Sobita, Director of Art and Culture; Th Binapani, President of All Manipur Film Producers' Association; L Surjakanta,President of Film Forum Manipur and social worker Irom Mangiton as Guests of Honour.